As a long-time follower of Horsetrailriders website I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by, even though I am re-situated outside of Nebraska now and am not getting the trail miles I would like so far. I brought our two horses, Cooper (in the picture) and Jake (the sub), out to California when we moved here about a year ago and we are slowly getting familiar with the trails. My biggest fear is that I will mistakenly take a switchback trail and, unable to turn around on a narrow drop-off trail, end up having to go over Cougar Rock!!
Although I dabble in various horse activities, I primarily am a trailrider. Horses are a grounding force in my life; feeding, grooming, and doing barn chores are great remedies for stress. I have a plaque that says, "My therapist was born in a barn." So true.
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91 comments:
Jan 3 - 2.15 miles
1/6/12 - 9.20 miles
Jan. 7- 9.64 miles at Granite Bay with two new horsey friends, Cathy and Michelle. This is two days of 9+ mile rides on poor Cooper. Today's nine miles were much more rugged than yesterdays...but I lost my camera on the ride yesterday, so no pictures! Temp in the 60's, light breeze, zero bugs, mostly sunny-- perfect horseriding weather (knock on wood)! We got kind of lost, so we had the 'opportunity' to see more of the trail; ended up on a small section of the Western States Trail accidentally! That was the part where I said, "Uh, I'm ready to turn around now, I'm seeing drop-offs, and we don't do drop-offs."
Jan 9 -1.53 miles around home on Jake. Max speed: 5.3mph (can you say "western pleasure jog"?)
Jan. 9- (I had yesterday's date wrong, btw, if it matters..)
6.26 miles today. Max speed at a lope: 11.7. It felt faster. (lol)
Jan. 11- 1.03 on Jake in the pasture.
Ride 11.66 mi. on Jan 12
Having some difficulty getting on my profile! Darn computers.
Yesterday we had an interesting qualifying ride with equine patrol member, Jerry. At one point we were bounding up a nearly vertical embankment and I'm thinking, "What am I thinking!?", but by the time I reached the top I was laughing, instead of crying, so all's well that ends well, as the saying goes.
Jan. 16, - 7.14 miles
Rode with new friend, Cathy, at a new place, Campo Seco, up in one of the old goldminers' areas in the foothills. It was a beautiful meandering trail through pastures and woodlands, with a couple outstanding high views of rivers and deep gorges. The trail was not close enough to the edge to be considered a cliffhanger... but close enough all the same! We got a lot of gate practice where I was trying to remember to break it down into tiny steps and reward the horse for each successful step; some progress was made, I believe. It was a well-marked trail that dove into a corner of BLM land for a bit. Not much wildlife to report, surprisingly. We did have one close-encounter with a jogger and a loose GSD that ran up behind us and caused Cathy's horse to go to bucking briefly. She stayed on, thank goodness!
Jan. 24 - 4.13 miles
Half on Jake, half on Cooper. We 'rode fences' inside all our pasture fencing, then up and down the side roads. Practiced 7-7-7 on Jake, rode Cooper bareback. Nice day in the low 50's and no wind at all. Most of the standing water has disappeared, though the pastures are soft.
Jan. 27 - 2.29 miles
Sadly, the Granite Bay ride fell through, so I was left to ride alone today. Visited neighbors, saw some new frisky calves, two squealing pigs, and some horses running the fences next to us. We got stuck for a minute between a fence with four big barking dogs on one side, a chain saw going on the other side, and a FedEx truck barreling past in the middle. blimey. We both managed to keep our heads. Good practice (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?), but it was far from relaxing. I was missing my nice horse trails!
6.69 miles on Jan 30, on Cooper, around vineyards and along a levee near the Cosumnes River. Sweatshirt weather.
Feb. 3, 2.51 miles on Jake, just around the home pastures and up and down the road, practiced some gates. Nice day, nice slow ride. ;)
Feb. 4- 4.48 miles.
Mark rode Jake, I rode Cooper, we rode along the old railroad tracks, starting from the Herald Store to Simmerhorn and back. It was still muddy in parts and Jake got into a fairly deep leg-sucking bog that surprised him and he had to lunge his way out; Mark was still on when it was over. ;) Beautiful 65 degree sunny day, wonderful riding weather.
FEb. 6 - 8.49 miles on Am. River Eq. Patrol ride-- my first one since joining!
6.69 miles today at Camanche, with Christina and Karen. Went on the loop for the first time-- nice!
Lake Tabeaud, 6.20 miles. (GPS kept beeping at me saying it had lost the signal, so I wonder if I am getting all the mileage recorded!)
Gorgeous place and beautiful long-sleeved tee weather. Cathy and I rode alone, ran across a woman walking her dog who warned us that up ahead was a sheepdog moving his flock and she would advise we not get between the dog and his sheep! So we reversed our trip and on the way back he had them back on the fenced side of the path and just laid there and barked at us from afar to let us know he was still on guard. I've been told the people with sheep or goats put a Great Pyrenees pup in with the flock and that's where he/she lives all the time, so they really DO think the flock is their pack! Kind of cool to always see a dog out there with them, especially as the GP kind of blend in and look like a sheep, too!
Feb. 18- 8.29 mi, max speed-6.9, average speed 3.4. Rode from a new staging area on the American River Parkway, Negro Bar, as a guest with a new riding group, the Sacramento Horseman's Association. Ride leaders were Mike and Norma on their matching mules, there were 12 riders in all. We had some pretty rocky hills at times and I was thinking about those boots (tucked away in my trailer), but Cooper picked his way through like he does, and didn't miss a beat. Views of the river and Lake Natomas, a good amount of riding in the trees (good thing to remember, come summer). I met a couple of women I'd met "on line" at this ride and we plan to ride together again sometime. Everyone brought snacks to share afterwards. I thanked the ride bosses for a very well-led and sane ride --- hope I can find those trails again when I go back there! No pics today, didn't take the camera.
Today's mileage: 9.48 miles. 15.8 max speed. 3.4 overall speed.
And this was on Jake, at a private place around the vineyards. It was a flat ride, the only thing of interest was the river crossing; very pretty clear water and river rock on the bottom, a little over knee deep at the deepest. No hesitation. Some kids on motor bikes caught his eye, and getting chased by the fence by two white mules was nearly Cathy's undoing-- but she stuck!
And I crossed the 100 mile mark! ;)
1.49 miles around home on Cooper. The gel sheepskin pad for the English saddle might do the trick for improving his saddle fit!
2.57 miles, 3.1 average speed, 10.4 max speed.
Rode alone today, around the pastures, practiced the gate several times (we are getting better!), and then practiced canter departs. Rode around the side roads and visited the cows, the goats, the dogs, the buffalo..
The horse vet stopped me on the road and we chatted. Then I met the new neighbors who are buying the project down the road: A once-fabulous large brick stable that was converted into a not-so-fabulous home for humans. This couple sounds like they are experienced restorers, so best of luck to them!! What a project it is!
9.93 miles, max speed 18.2. YTD total- 117.72
Rode around some new vineyards today after an arena trail obstacle session with Cathy. We did a little side-by-side cantering, which went well. Cooper and Frankie are good friends now.
On Mar. 5, - 6.16 miles at Cool, max speed 9.2 mph (and that was a canter, lol). Pre-ride for an upcoming ACTHA ride in two weeks. Went with a couple other gals, one of whom is going to do the ACTHA ride with me; neither of us had seen this trail and knew it was up in the foothills, so wanted to get a look at it before committing. Lots of water crossings, but nothing else to write home about. We're on. My YTD total= 123.88.
That pulls me ahead of Jess again. But I hear she is planning to ride today! I'd better get out there.
9.47 miles.
YTD total = 133.35 miles
Patrol ride from Nimbus Fish Hatchery west along the American River Parkway. New trail head; not much to offer at the staging area, other than a gravel parking lot and a hitching post, but the trail was great and some of the scenery was stunning!
I want to come and ride with you it looks like you get to ride the wine country.
3/20/12- 0.90 miles. First ride in the hackamore, he did great! We just rode here at home, walk-trot, practiced stops and backing up and some sidepasses. Nice. My main thing is to be sure I have as much control without a bit as I had with one, and I believe I do.
1.92 miles on Cooper today--- YTD total= 136.17
We traveled a little farther in our new hackamore (aka Indian bridle and/or sidepull), up and down the roads around our place. I found a pretty decent little neckrein going on in this! Maybe we can play in the western tack after all. I hadn't been on him in awhile (well, I guess it was just a week ago, seems like two), so it was nice. We practiced all our tricks, but no canter today, I didn't feel we had solid footing, with it being wet around here, but we sidepassed to all the mailboxes, got our own mail out, practiced transitions, walk-trot-halt-trot-sidepass left- sidepass right. He sure goes just as nice in this bridle as with a bit.
We got 'attacked' by a corgi who changed her mind once we faced and took a step in her direction. lol I love those dogs! Owner said, "Chloe is kind of hard-headed." Aren't they all? That's part of their charm.
Yes we are pretty much living in wine country. Lodi is the zinfandel capital, from what I'm told, and it's right here. I do want to ride around Napa and Sonoma sometime.
You are welcome to come and ride! I have an extra.
9.20 miles today, Cooper at Lake Camanche SRA--- YTD total- 145.37
Rode with Heidi on her 3 yo paint gelding's maiden voyage on a 'real trail'. Rock stars! He's a very, very nice little horse.
1.86 miles yesterday, with Mark on Jake, me on Coop. S-L-O-W ride in the neighborhood. Too much activity out there; this is why mid-week rides are better!
YTD= 147.23
Today 1.02 miles on Jake. Bareback around home area. YTD= 148.25
7.12 miles, 12.9 max speed, 3.3 average speed. Rode with Cathy A. on a patrol ride. Bicyclists were the problem today--- seems they can't locate that big wide black-topped road with the center stripe that is marked "Bike Path". So they find themselves on the one-track wooded horse trail a lot-- the one marked every mile or so with the horse shoe sign that says "No Bicycles". Poor lost bikers. Cathy almost had a head-on collision with one rogue biker. Her horse leaped back and to the side to avoid a crash and she felt like her neck snapped---can you get whiplash on a horse? Seems like it! That bicyclist earned himself a well-deserved "educational discussion" from Cathy about where he can and cannot ride, with I believe a threat of a ticket (which I guess really can happen). If they insist on doing this I think I need to start wearing a whistle around my neck to alert oncoming bikes that they are about to hit a horse!! Or maybe a paintball gun to mark them so the ranger knows which one to ticket that day..
4/23/12 - 7.89 miles, 10.8 max speed, 3.1 av. speed, at So. Camanche with Cathy M. We found 8 varieties of wildflowers, but could only name a few: Indian paintbrush, vetch, iris, scotch broom...and the others. Quite pretty! That is a really, really rocky trail; Cooper did not much like it.
1.32 miles, 3.3 av speed, 10.7 max. Short ride around our place, entertained the neighbor fillies with our fancy moves as they charged the fence. I got off on my own volition, I am happy to report! It's a windy cool day and Cooper is feeling his oats (as if he gets any!).
7.41 miles yesterday, total between both horses. I wrote a long description and apparently it didn't make it through! Anyway, short ride around here on Jake, bareback. Then a wonderful solo ride on Cooper at Camanche North Shore. He was excellent!
6.86 miles today at the Sacramento Conservancy ride. NICE ride with a group of 14. Tricia rode her horse, Foxie, and they did great; apparently last time they tried this it did not go great, so happy it turned out much better today. Cooper moved out well, though he could not believe I was putting him back in the trailer after last evening's solo ride.
Yesterday, 7.54 miles at Camanche North Shore with Dani Heitman, from church. We saw old "grinding rocks" from the Native American tribes who used to live there. Pretty cool artifacts! Did a little off-roadin', as she is very familiar with the place. Saw a few deer, ....woodpecker, water fowl.... but no owls.
Today's ride was on Jake. 2.39 miles, 7.3 max, 3.1 average.
I just felt like giving Jake a little time, he's looking so shiny and pretty now (finally!!). Western saddle is all that fits him, since I don't have a girth that will reach around him for the English, so I've never even tried it on him. The ride started out really well, beginning with warm-ups in the "arena" (side pasture that used to be an arena), then out to the blacktop. Waved at the neighbor, rode past the buffalo (4 of them live in a pasture near me), then it was going so well I decided to take him a little farther down the road, past the cows. He was a little leery of this one particularly noisy steer, but we got by fine. Then we were maybe a quarter of a mile from home when he decided he should already BE home and started to dance around, particularly when a vehicle passed us. That happened twice. Gave the drivers something to watch, I guess -- one of whom was our mailman. Both drivers fortunately were very polite and slowed way down to pass. That's what I get for prematurely telling Jake what a good boy he was being! Overall a good ride, nonetheless. Wanted to get it in before the heat set in.
5.92 miles, 7.8 max, 3.0 average.
Spur of the moment ride with Dani and Gordon, taking out Dani's older Arab mare, Sadie, and the new one, Lily, a just turned 4 yo ArabXTrakehner cross. This was not Lily's first trail ride...just been out three other times... but the first since she had a bolt and runaway accident with Dani in the arena a month or so ago. Gordon decided to ride her today. I prayed in advance. He is not the horse person of the two of them, but has undertaken to work with this horse. Once we got the tack in its correct place, after a short start-out, the ride went very well. No near-death experiences and I think it was a good ride to get under her belt. Er... under her cinch. ? Cooper was the slower one of the bunch, like usual these days.
Hmmm, my last entry doesn't seem to have made it....
So on the 25th, maybe, I had 1.81 miles.
On the 27th I had 1.75.
YTD total would then be 198.36 miles. I might make it to 200 yet.
5.80 miles, ytd total - 204.16
Yay, made it over the 200 mark, finally!
Av. moving speed- 3.2, max speed- 14.8
Rode Jake on his first qualifying ride today and he was a rock star! One more ride like this next week and he's 'in there'.
Yesterday, 6.08 miles
YTD total = 210.24
Jake's second qualifying ride. He passed! Now he can officially serve as an Am. River Volunteer Eq. Patrol horse!
He was exemplary in his behavior, though fairly slow at leading. That's OK, better too slow than too fast in this particular role! The two other patrol members like him, asked me what color he is, exactly. LOL I tell them what I tell everyone, "He's registered as a sorrel." and let it go at that..
1.12 miles today on Cooper.
YTD total = 211.36
7.38 miles total, some on each horse.
YTD total - 218.74
I'm never going to get to 365 miles at this rate! (That is my goal for the year.)
15.12 miles during the camping trip
233.86 YTD total
Rode Jake at Tahoe National Park when we stayed over two nights in the Skillman Horse Camp; what a beautiful place that was!! Wow. Nice, nice trails, too, though I understand one can get a wee bit lost (ahem, to those who did..). Jake did a good job for me, even though he got buddied up with his neighbor there. He had 'happy feet' the first 15 minutes or so of each ride, but then quickly realized that that was energy best spent in navigating the rest of the ride, as we did some climbing. Elevation just under 5000 feet there. I'm going back some day!
3.12 miles yesterday
236.98 YTD total
My first trail ride on Cooper since he came up lame seven and a half weeks ago. I met with close neighbor, Cathy M., and we rode easy flat hard dirt trails in the walnut orchards near her house; I suspect we were trespassing, but she's been riding there for years so I followed her lead. Figured I could genuinely claim ignorance if we got caught!
Very encouraging report on Cooper! Although his walking pace was slower than Frankie's it didn't seem to be because of pain. The most encouraging part was when Cooper voluntarily broke into a fairly fast trot and kept it up for a significant length of time until I pulled him in! Yay. Good signs.
Now on Wednesday Mark and I are going to try a short ride on a rougher trail and see how that is. I used Cavallo boots and pads on this ride and will probably continue that at least for awhile. If he remains sound in these we may eventually get back to EZ Boot Gloves, and if a miraculous recovery occurs we may even get all the way back to barefoot someday, who knows. As long as I can have him sound in ANY way, that's my goal!
5.25 miles on July 4 -
YTD total - 242.23
Mark and I had a good ride with friends at Camanche South Shore. Excellent walking ride on Cooper, though trotting didn't seem like a good idea to him still. (Lazy? or not quite sound?) I didn't push him, since I was just now getting him back on the trails after so many weeks off.
Jake did a great job hauling Mark around; he even had some pep in his step! Had to tell him to slow down at times!
1.60 miles today
YTD total = 243.83
I took Cooper for our old usual ride around our neighborhood blacktop roads, barefoot, just so I could assess how his feet are feeling. He did AWESOME! Our average moving speed was 3.2, which is up from 2.9-3.0 at his worst. I couldn't feel a problem, he was willing to pick up a trot, and no gimps.
He's back on the rotation for patrol rides, as of today.
5.52 miles today
YTD total = 249.35
Finally got a decent ride in. Cooper is doing great in boots, we rode North Camanche on a lone ride (did I ever tell you how much I enjoy taking my horse to a trail by myself?) and had four canter 'episodes' with him very willing! He does very well all by himself, doesn't seem at all worried or herd bound.
BTW: I am NOT crazy about these latest boots (Cavallo), I need to get more Easyboot Gloves, those have been the best so far, but I can say at least none of them fell off!
2.62 miles today
YTD total = 251.97
Passed the "big 250" mark at least! lol
3.98 miles
YTD 255.95
5.48 miles yesterday
YTD miles= 261.43
Today, 6.10 miles
YTD = 267.53
Yesterday 5.88 miles
YTD = 273.41
Yesterday 9.02 miles
YTD = 282.43
Today: 6.99 miles
YTD - 289.42
Aug. 31,
5.72 miles,
YTD - 295.14
2.65 miles today
YTD - 297.79
Closing in on 300! Not much, in comparison to many, but makin' me happy anyway.
Today 5.17 miles
YTD - 302.96
Yay, passed the 300 mark, just me n my horse! It was a rare overcast day (when did that become a positive??) so I set aside my plans for shopping and housework and saddled up. Used my 'new' old Crates saddle and admired it's beautiful quality. Cooper and I rode past the Herald Store and down the old RR tracks, like we did last year about this time. Hard-packed dirt and very dry grass and weeds were our footing, not so much rock, but even on the scattered rock roads Cooper went well without gimping (in boots). So glad! He was in a little bit of a hurry on the way home, so we had to practice "listening". No big surprises, just a couple little startles (culvert, and unexpected sheep).
4.69 miles
YTD - 307.65
Disappointing mileage for the poker ride, but oh well! It was fun.
3.20 miles
YTD - 310.85
With Dani and her fellow boarder, Lynn, on her first trail ride attempt. Not sure she had a positive experience, but at least no injuries were sustained!
Very short ride!
8.54 miles
YTD - 319.39
I wrote the long version on HT's. The biggest challenge was the hauling there and out again-- it was a 2-hr trip each way, but not like 2 easy highway driving hours, oh no. It was white-knuckling hairpin turns up and down the mountains!
Surprisingly, the trails themeselves were pretty nice, no dropoffs at all, though we definitely did some steep climbs. I can feel Cooper getting more and more fit as I challenge him a little more all the time. By the end of 3 hours I was feeling kind of done-in, then remembered all I had had for breakfast was black coffee. Well duh.
My GPS says 6.42
YTD - 325.81
I swear we went farther than that; seemed like 15.
It was a bigger group ride (16 in the group that went out together), all was fun and challenging trails and beautiful views, and then the BEES happened. It was kind of a cluster. It was an out-and-back route, so we had to somehow get back past the bee area. A group of five of us split off to try to bushwack through the woods to skirt the bees, since one gal with us was allergic to bee stings and didn't have her meds with her. But the rest decided to just run through them (I guess). Our small group of five got a little lost, trying to do that; found another parallel trail that dead-ended at an impassable fallen tree area, so had to backtrack. Eventually we made it down to a lower trail, where we were very surprised to find a lady from an early ride standing there, horseless, in her bra! They had run into bees, her horse ran off, she had multiple stings and was looking pretty stressed. She was a lady in her 60's and overweight, in no shape to walk back to camp. So I offered to let her ride Cooper and I would walk, which is what we did, I led her. Her shirt was off because there were bees in it (I hadn't caught that comment when I rolled it up and stuck it in the saddle bag!). So we all started walking back and ran into a couple rangers who were out looking for her and they led us out up to a parking lot where we were met by NINE EMS young men! Well, alrighty then! She was OK in the end, her horse was found unhurt, and all the stung horses and people survived.
When our contingency finally arrived back at camp everyone applauded. They'd been waiting for us; I think they were just glad they could finally eat. haha
10.03 miles
YTD = 335.84
New group, a "non-club" as they want to point out, run more like PRR. A certain place to meet each Wed. AM, then sit around and chew the fat. (And drink the beer, perhaps...) About half and half, women and men, all retired, which is why it is a midweek day ride! I like the bunch, the pace was relaxed, a lot of horse talk (men have a different slant on things..), I found a horse I would seriously buy if he was for sale! lol
This was some spectacular views! and of course did I have my camera with me?? no.
Jake did the trip, it was more of a ride than I had expected and we had to stop and let him catch his breath a couple of times, but he managed quite well overall.
Today, 16.9
Thursday 7.52
YTD total = 350.26
No ride report, too pooped right now. But I am closing in on my year goal of 365. Fortunately the weather is excellent here this time of year, so outdoor sports will continue awhile!
Eeek, I can't add! Shorted myself 10 hours!
YTD total - 360.26! Just five hours short of my goal.
Oct. 20 - 8.50
Oct. 21 - 9.74
YTD total - 378. 50
Rode Fancy and hit my personal GOAL!!!
Oct. 29 at North Shore Camanche, Solo Cup ride (me and my horse).
4.17 miles
YTD total = 382.67
Bearing down on the 400 mile marker!
October 30. Rode Dani's mare, Sadie, while she trained Lily.
3.15 miles
YTD = 385.82
Oct. 31- Halloween
7.54 miles
YTD - 393.36
Had a nice patrol ride with Cathy Andrews, starting at Sunrise Ave. Jake went this time, it was good to get him out and about. Overcast pleasantly cool day, quiet park! We saw a rare pure black squirrel; wish I could find the perfect horse in that color!
Nov. 6 - election day
1.18 miles
YTD - 394.54
Had to get in at least a small ride on my solid riding horse after spending a lot of time working on gentling the new foster horse, Bravo. I needed to remind myself how horses DO turn out at some point, given the time and effort!
Nov. 8 - Finally made it to the Western States Trail, starting at Auburn, the endpoint of the Tevis Cup ride. Way cool! We rode as far as "No Hands" Bridge, then turned around when it started to rain. Quicker ride back, but we were still soaked!
9.98 miles
YTD - 404.52
Nov. 14 -
7.70 miles
YTD - 412.22
Onward to 500!!
I had a slow relaxing group ride at Camanche South Shore with the "Over the Hill Gang", a bunch of mostly retired old farts. I mean 'men'. But they are being gradually invaded by women, I see more each time. There were around 15 total, about half women, and we split into two different groups for the riding, so mine was a group of eight. Cooper was super good (that always makes me think he is sick..). Nice ride, sat around and jawed and had lunch/refreshments afterwards. This may be one of the last nice days before several rainy days on the horizon. I'm glad I went.
Nov. 24
1.33 miles on Jake, bareback in the pastures
YTD - 413.55
Yesterday's hours
Nov. 23
1.54 miles
YTD - 415.09
Nov. 25
4.26 miles
YTD total = 419.35
Mark and I rode at Camanche N. Shore-- nice quiet spur-of-the-moment ride before our vacation tomorrow.
Brief outing around our road today, on Jake.
1.52 miles
YTD - 420.87 I think..
Planning a Cooper ride later this week if the rain doesn't interfere. It flooded pretty good here yesterday.
Today,
3.06 miles
YTD = 423.93
Rode Cooper around the area, practiced some figure 8's at the cul-de-sac. Cloudy and cool, but nice.
Today, 11.0 miles on the nose!
YTD total = 434.93
Rode Cooper at Camanche with Dani and Sadie. We rode in the mist and light rain a lot of the time, but it was quite pleasant!
Dec. 8
4.93 miles
YTD - 439.86
Rode Cooper in the HH parade, Rio Linda. Did most at a trot (or jig).
Today, 3.26 miles
YTD = 443.12
Helped Dani today, rode her Arabian mare, Sadie, while she worked with her husband's filly, Lily. We rode in the muddy pasture, practiced crossing boggy mud and water and logs... and invisible boogy men. All stayed on top.
Today, 5.17 on a solo ride.
YTD = 448.29
Beautiful crisp sunny day before the predicted rain comes again, so took my best pony to ride the hills around the reservoir. A little muddy on the loop, but mostly excellent. Deb H. kept me company for part of the ride (per cell phone.).
Woohoo, more miles! Rode with the Over the Hill Gang today, a "mature" group of trail riders, both genders, more my age! The six gaited horses went on their own ride and we three with QH's had ours. Nice, quiet ride on very well-behaved geldings.
7.20 miles today
YTD total - 455.49
New goal for 2012: 500
2.52 miles today
ytd - 458.01
Rode Sadie for Dani while she trained on Lilly-- we practiced backing up (pretty good), and stopping (not so good). Muddy footing.
3.22 miles today.
461.23 YTD total
Ponied Bravo and rode Cooper around the neighborhood roads.
Last ride of the year!
9.17 miles
YTD - 470.40 miles
Grand finale.
Dani and I rode on the Pioneer Trail at Granite Bay today, the northwest shore along the ridge and then the shoreline coming back. We were challenged on the way out with slabs of slippery granite on the trail, some mud, some high narrow trails, some beautiful views. We ran into a rider who told us how to drop down to the shoreline for an easier route, so we went that way. Still didn't make it all the way to Sterling Point, but had fun doing some off-roading on the way back, trying to find our old trail. Finally did! It was a 3+ hour ride. Cooper looked a little drawn up in the flank when we got back-- he hasn't been drinking enough and refused along the trail-- so I was glad to get him to the tank and then home to the pasture and dinner.
You Go! Your ride today brought you up two placings in the Derby (to date). That could change as the miles come in but as of right now, you went from 26th to 24th place!
Woohoo! Shoulda done this sooner! lol
Just for kicks: Go back and read what I wrote on Jan. 7, 2012. That drop-off area (that I thought was the WST) is what we did today-- and beyond! ;) I'm slowly learning to NOT be a flatlander any more!
I.Am.Done.
Sheila
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